**Author details**

in addition to the leaves which are left behind in the field. Sugarcane bagasse is an excellent 2nd generation source for production of ethanol and bioelectricity [90]. High cost of enzymes limit the conversion of hemicellulose and cellulose into cellulosic ethanol. Production cost of enzymes can be decreased by the overexpression of cellulolytic enzymes in GM (genetically modified) plants to meet the demand of sugarcane mills. Adoption of new technologies may help to overcome issues relevant to the stability, storage and overproduction of enzymes in plants. Sainz [91] reported that highly thermostable and hydrolytically efficient enzymes were produced by genetic engineering. Transgenic sugarcane plants overexpressing bacterial endoglucanase (EG) and fungal cellobiohydrolases (CBH I and CBH II) were developed. Targeting EG to chloroplasts and cellobiohydrolases to vacuoles resulted in elevated enzymatic activity in the mature plant leaves. This increased enzyme activity demonstrated that cellulose hydrolytic enzymes can be produced in sugarcane plants [92] and will boost up energy production from cane and its by-products including bagasse. In addition to the traditional agricultural products (food, feed and fiber), plants are emerging as a valuable source of energy, fuel, biomaterials and chemical precursors for the industry. Advancements in research are of pivotal importance to meet the increasing demand of quality raw materials [93]. Genetic engineering techniques are playing important role to achieve this goal and are envisioned to play leading role in the production and processing technology. For instance, input cost can be reduced by producing raw material in plants as plants have proved an effective platform for the production of industrially important compounds. GM microbes are commonly used at industrial scale for rapid conversion of raw materials into desired product. Conversely, a few GM crops have gained commercial status in spite of wide spread eagerness and renowned potential of genetic engineering for crop improvement [94]. Biotechnology occupies a central role in US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop crops with modified cell wall composition. The DOE has received encouraging appreciation because of their research on bioenergy crops and production of valuable processing enzymes by engineering metabolic and biochemical pathways [95]. To successfully attain national goal of bioeconomy, genetic engineering is appearing as a major contributor. A wide range of plants like corn, poplar, switchgrass, canola, sorghum, soybean (*Saccharum* L.) had been used to produce bioenergy but sugarcane is far better choice as is a perennial crop which does not require reseeding after each growing cycle. Hence, sugarcane is the most valuable crop for the production of bioethanol which can further be

Conventional research has contributed to great extent and has delivered its maximum. So, the only hope to get improved agricultural crops is the implication of advanced research. Adoption of biotechnological interventions have proved their worth and more than 18 million farmers in 26 countries are growing GM crops on an area of 185.1 million hectares (457.4 million acres) which is increasing each year. More than 90% of these crops are either insect resistant or herbicide tolerant resulting a massive decrease in the usage of chemical pesticides by 37%, increased crop yields by 22%, and increased farmer's profits by 68%. Though, biotechnological interventions have produced agronomically improved genotypes yet scientists

improved by employing biotechnological innovations.

**6. Conclusions**

130 Sugarcane - Technology and Research

Ghulam Mustafa\*, Faiz Ahmad Joyia, Sultana Anwar, Aqsa Parvaiz and Muhammad Sarwar Khan

\*Address all correspondence to: drmustafa8@gmail.com

Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology (CABB), University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
